asked the Minister for Health if he is aware of the recent allegation by the President of the Irish Medical Association that grossly substandard food is being served in Irish hospitals; if he will investigate this serious allegation; and, if necessary, take remedial action.
Ceisteanna—Questions . Oral Answers . - Hospital Food .
12.
: I presume the Deputy is referring to press reports of the speech by the President of the Irish Medical Association at the recent annual general meeting of the association. The President in his speech referred to the effects of modern life styles on health and, in relation to eating habits, referred to the excessive use of refined carbohydrates. In this context he criticised the use of refined carbohydrates in hospital diets and recommended that patients while in hospital should be educated to take high roughage diets.
I would like to make it clear that the food served in hospitals is of good quality but people generally prefer and are accustomed to diets containing refined carbohydrates. The question of persuading people to use correct diets should, I think, be approached as a matter of general health education.